volunteerism
volunteerism Lexical Profile
volunteerism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The use or involvement of volunteer labor, especially in community services, charitable organizations, or public causes.
"The local animal shelter relies heavily on community volunteerism to care for rescued pets."
The principle or system of relying on voluntary participation rather than compulsion, particularly in military service or civic institutions.
"Before the introduction of the draft, the nation's defense depended entirely on military volunteerism."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Volunteerism' and 'voluntarism' overlap in meaning, but 'volunteerism' usually refers to the everyday practice of community service, whereas 'voluntarism' more often denotes the philosophical doctrine that the will is fundamental or the political principle of relying on voluntary action rather than state intervention.
• Rhymes for volunteerism
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the mid-19th century from 'volunteer' (from French 'volontaire', meaning 'willing', ultimately from Latin 'voluntarius') plus the suffix '-ism'.